Interrogation
“Current Date, June thirteenth seventeen LR. The Suspect's name is Marcus Hollands, twenty eight year old human, address 438 Haymaker way Ponyville Equestria. Arrived nine years ago, May eighteenth eight LR as a result of a calculation error of Princess Twilight Sparkle’s test of Equestria’s developing waygate network. Am I missing anything so far Mr Hollands?”
“Aww, you're not going to give the audience a physical description?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Fiinne.”
“Moving on. You studied runic magic for three years under Princess Twilight Sparkle starting six months after your arrival. It has gone on record that you were exceptionally talented, you even share some credit as a consultant for the waygate network. After your study under Princess Twilight Sparkle, you started a business called General Enchanting. According to your tax documents you pull in millions of bits a year in profits and employ tens of thousands in Equestria. All within eight and a half years.”
“I’m flattered, you really dug into my background, Miss. Hell I’m sure you even know about my rune cracking jobs for the Equestrian military and private companies during the first few years of my business.”
“Yes, I know of them, though the details were covered in black ink. Any reason you’re bringing this up?”
“Just thought we could move on from the history recount, get to the fun part where you list off my recent accomplishments.”
“You mean Infiltrating the castle and walking past all of the wards like you owned the place, before cracking open the most secured and enchanted vault on the planet?”
“You make it sound so simple. You know how annoying it is to trick half a dozen wards for changeling detection then the perception warping wards as well as reproducing the employee access keys. Then don’t get me started on the fucking vault!”
“No I don't, Mr.Hollands. What I do know is that your friends made off with multiple ancient artifacts and that you made it possible. So I would love to get to the part where you tell me about your friends.”
“They are not my friends!”
“Those fuckers used me and threw me away once I finished my part,” Probably on his orders too, “I should have known it would happen, I should have prepared more contingencies.It was a coin flip if Princess Twilight would get to me in time once I triggered the vault alarm.”
“How did the others leave!?”
“Calm down, the truth is I am not too sure. If I was to guess it was some powerful artifact or talisman, it brute forced the spatial lock and made shit very unstable for a moment. If it were not for the vault’s nature as a pocket dimension I’m sure everyone in Canterlot would have felt it.”
“What were you after in that vault? Why did your crew betray you?”
“Ha, you think I was the mastermind behind it. That the others just got greedy and betrayed me.”
“You’re saying someone else gathered you and your crew together?”
“Yes”
“Then who?”
“I don’t know, communication was through dead drops and heavily enchanted communication crystals. I believe they are male but there are so many ways to change your voice I can’t be sure…wait the unicorn! What was his name, ah yes Galiant Star. Teleportation expert, wonderful control with Telekinesis. He always seemed more respectful than usual when we talked to the Boss.
“The unreformed changeling and the pegasus, Cara and Dark Streak probably took the money and ran. I think they were in a relationship and besides that, they were always very mercenary about the whole deal.”
“Do you know anything else about Galiant Star, home, favorite bar, favorite food?”
“How would I know? We were coworkers at best, recruited because we were good at something while being crazy enough to accept. I can tell you every hideout location though I don’t think the Boss or Galiant Star would be so stupid to leave behind some way to find them hell Galiant Star could easily be some fake identity. You ponies don’t exactly have anything like a social security number or picture identification cards.”
“Noted, I’ll be sure you receive a paper and pencil later to write down the locations of the hideouts, it won’t hurt to check. Now what were you, or rather your boss after in the vault?”
“Why ask? You should already have a list of what was taken.”
“Just, answer the question.”
“Fine, fine. To my knowledge the boss was after the usual. Gold, bits, rare gems maybe some lesser unprotected artifacts. The Boss was very cagey with me about anything that did not have to do with opening the vault.”
“So you are not aware that four powerful artifacts were taken.”
“No I was not, what were the artifacts?”
“I am not at liberty to tell you.”
“Fine be that way, can you at least tell me how they cracked four sets of protections that would take me considerable time to crack open?”
“That is still being investigated, we were hoping you could tell us.”
“Because you thought I cracked them.”
“That was the original assumption.”
“Huh, did the donuts arrive? I missed breakfast.”
“Come In.”
“Princess Twilight!”
“Rise, Detective Fast Mark. I apologize for not sending word of my arrival. As you know recent events have been chaotic.”
“I understand Your Highness. May I speak freely Princess?”
“You may.”
“Why are you here? We were going to send the full recording of the questioning to you as soon as we finished”
“A fair question. I wish to speak to my student alone
“Of course Your Highness.”
“I got myself into quite a bit of trouble this time didn’t I?”
“You know, you could have just asked.”
“I would be lying if I didn’t say yes. But…”
“You wouldn’t feel the achievement was yours.”
“You know me so well, Teach.”
“I did spend three years teaching you and watched your progress every year after.”
“Ha, you did. So what now?”
“Simple my student, you will help clean your mess. I will have an escort take you to your old room in the castle once you are released. You are not to leave your room without an escort of either a guard or myself, understand?”
“Yes, Teach. Thank you for this chance.”
“Your welcome Marcus. But know this, I will have a punishment for you once we deal with this new threat. Understand?”
“I understand.”
“Good. I’ll see you later.”
“See ya later Teach.”
Author's Note
well here we are my entry to the Dialogue Only Challenge submitted at the last minute
